In 2011, a number of interested community members came together to address Landcare associated issues in their area. The area to be involved includes: Corringle, Bete Belong, Newmerella, Simpsons Creek, Lochend.
 


An information session was facilitated at the Newmerella Fire Station by the Far East Victoria Landcare coordinator and included 2 Jarrahmond Landcare members who spoke of projects that highlighted the diversity of Landcare.

A follow up public meeting was then organised for the following month with the intention of gauging interest in the possibility of a Landcare group being formed.

An Executive Committee was elected at that meeting. The group was formally incorporated through the VFF-FLTA in 2012.

Area demographics
Approximately 12 000 hectares in size, the Snowy West Landcare area is bounded by the Snowy River in the East, the coast to the South, Simpsons Creek to the west and......to the North.

Local assets within the Group region include: Lake Wat Wat and Lake Corringle within the lower Snowy wetlands, Ewings Marsh,...............Rivers include the Snowy River and the area also contains valuable and extensive farmland.

Soil types consist of a range of sandy loams to clay loams on the floodplains, with Plains carrying strongly acidic dark grey or brown sands.

The major forms of landuse in the Snowy West Landcare area include dairy, beef, lifestyle  agriculture,horticulture  and tourism.

Our first project was a joint project with the Rail Trail at the site beginning at Burn Road. We received some funding to have the site weeded, planted out and then a further planting and weeding.

On a lovely sunny day in June a keen group of volunteers (SWLG and Rail Trail) spent the morning planting 30 advanced trees at the Burn Road site. There was plenty of nice cakes for morning tea when we finished and nice hot cuppas.

A further planting day was held  in July where another 400 plants were planted at the Burn Road site by a very large group of volunteers from the Rail Trail, Marlo Landcare, SWLG and interrested members of the public.


This site is an ongoing project and very satisifying to work with such a diverse group of people from the Rail Trail volunteers, Marlo and Jarrahmond Landcare groups and interested members of the public.

The next fun project was the Scarecrows, so some members of the Rail Trail volunteers and Snowy West Landcare volunteers held a couple of gettogethers where we assembled 2 scarecrows and a bike a child and a parent group which was then placed at the entrance to the Rail Trail on the highway and caused much interest even being shown on TV. A lot of fun.

Other Activities Snowy West Landcare Members have been involved in include the Far East Victoria Landcare Sustainable EXPO Committee, Clean Up Australia Day at Corringle Slips where volunteers from the Rail Trail joined us also, a great community and great friendships.
Snowy West Landcare Group Beginnings in detail.
Monday 5th September 2011An information session was organised by Jason Gribenow at the Newmerella Fire Station with Penny Gray Far East Victoria Landcare coordinator Emma Orgill East Gippsland Regional Landcare Facilitator Dawn Parker Far East Victoria Landcare President Stuart Clarke Far East Victoria Landcare's Marlo Project Officer and Cindy Robinson Jarrahmond Landcare treasurer, Far East Victoria's vice president and Jeanette Honey  from Jarrahmond Landcare  who spoke of projects that highlighted the diversity of Landcare and showed a magnificient slide show of the birds of Jarrahmond booklet they had produced amongst other things in their community including the Linkages Project .
Members of the public also attended and the evening was very helpful.
.Wednesday 28th September 2011A follow up public meeting was then organised  with the intention of gauging interest in the possibility of a Landcare group being formed. An Executive Committee was elected at that meeting consisting of President,Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary . The group was formally incorporated through the VFF-FLTA in 2012.
Thursday 6th October 2011.
First site visit to Rail Trail at  Burn Road by members of the Rail Trail Friends Group with  members of Snowy West Landcare  Group to discuss this as a first project for the group to assist with weeding planting and general care of this most important beginning of the rail trail and entrance to Orbost.
Area demographicsApproximately 12 000 hectares in size, the Snowy West Landcare area is bounded by the Snowy River in the East, the coast to the South, Simpsons Creek to the west and......to the North.Local assets within the Group region include: Lake Wat Wat and Lake Corringle within the lower Snowy wetlands, Ewings Marsh,...............Rivers include the Snowy River and the area also contains valuable and extensive farmland.Soil types consist of a range of sandy loams to clay loams on the floodplains, with Plains carrying strongly acidic dark grey or brown sands.The major forms of landuse in the Snowy West Landcare area include dairy, beef, lifestyle  agriculture,horticulture  and tourism.Our first project was a joint project with the Rail Trail at the site beginning at Burn Road. We received some funding to have the site weeded, planted out and then a further planting and weeding. On a lovely sunny day in June a keen group of volunteers (SWLG and Rail Trail) spent the morning planting 30 advanced trees at the Burn Road site. There was plenty of nice cakes for morning tea when we finished and nice hot cuppas. A further planting day was held  in July where another 400 plants were planted at the Burn Road site by a very large group of volunteers from the Rail Trail, Marlo Landcare, SWLG and interrested members of the public. This site is an ongoing project and very satisifying to work with such a diverse group of people from the Rail Trail volunteers, Marlo and Jarrahmond Landcare groups and interested members of the public.The next fun project was the Scarecrows, so some members of the Rail Trail volunteers and Snowy West Landcare volunteers held a couple of gettogethers where we assembled 2 scarecrows and a bike a child and a parent group which was then placed at the entrance to the Rail Trail on the highway and caused much interest even being shown on TV. A lot of fun.Other Activities Snowy West Landcare Members have been involved in include the Far East Victoria Landcare Sustainable EXPO Committee, Clean Up Australia Day at Corringle Slips where volunteers from the Rail Trail joined us also, a great community and great friendships.